Storage Container with Collapsible Lid and Utensil

ABSTRACT

A storage container with collapsible lid and utensil. The present invention consists of a base having a flexible and collapsible silicone lid or hood. This hood or lid allows for easy opening and closing without popping off or unscrewing. This hood or lid also ensures that when closed the food inside is fully covered from spills and splashes. Additionally as the flexible hood or lid remains permanently attached to the base of the container, it cannot be misplaced.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 61/061,638, entitled “Folding Ladle Utensil”, filedon Jun. 15, 2008.

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not Applicable

SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM

Not Applicable

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to kitchen tools. Morespecifically, the present invention relates to utensils for storingcooking necessities.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Most utensils for storing cooking necessities like sugar, spices,sprinkles have some short coming when it comes to covering the foodinside when not immediately needed for cooking. These utensils, oftenreferred to as “Salt Pigs” are, for example, often open mouthed withouta cover making it possible to spill or splash liquids into the openingand spoiling the contents. While some models have a hood to prevent thistype of mishap, none of the existing salt pigs have the ability tocompletely cover their contents.

The other types of containers such as spice jars and larger storagecanisters typically have a sealing covered lid that either screws orpops onto the top of the container. This lid solves the problem ofcovering and protecting the food inside, but it creates a differentproblem. Now every time you want to use the food inside the containeryou must remove the lid and keep track of it while you use the foodinside the container, so that the container can be resealed after use.This creates a situation where the food stored inside the container isnot easily accessible and slows down the cooking or preparation process.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention addresses the shortcomings in the prior art byhaving a flexible and collapsible silicone hood. This hood allows foreasy opening and closing without popping off or unscrewing a lid. Italso ensures that when closed the food inside is fully covered fromspills and splashes. Additionally as the flexible hood remainspermanently attached to the base of our invention it cannot bemisplaced. All of this combines to create a food storage container thatis both very accessible for use while cooking but that also fullyprotects the food making it far superior to the existing products.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and form a partof the specification, illustrate the present invention and, togetherwith the description, further serve to explain the principles of theinvention and to enable a person skilled in the pertinent art to makeand use the invention.

FIG. 1 illustrates a front perspective view of the storage containerwith collapsible lid and utensil where the lid is in an uncollapsed,open position;

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of the storage container withcollapsible lid and utensil where the lid is in a collapsed, closedposition;

FIG. 3 illustrates a side plan view of the storage container withcollapsible lid and utensil where the lid is in an uncollapsed, openposition;

FIG. 4 illustrates a side plan view of the storage container withcollapsible lid and utensil where the lid is in a collapsed, closedposition;

FIG. 5 illustrates a rear perspective view of the storage container withcollapsible lid and utensil where the lid is in an uncollapsed, openposition;

FIG. 6 illustrates a top plan view of the storage container withcollapsible lid and utensil where the lid is in an uncollapsed, openposition;

FIG. 7 illustrates a bottom plan view of the storage container withcollapsible lid and utensil where the lid is in an uncollapsed, openposition;

FIG. 8 is a first orthogonal view of the utensil of the presentinvention in a first position where the scoop is in an extendedposition;

FIG. 9 is a second orthogonal view of the utensil of the presentinvention in a first position where the scoop is in an extendedposition;

FIG. 10 is a first perspective view of the utensil of the presentinvention in a first position where the scoop is in an extendedposition; and

FIG. 11 is a second perspective view of the utensil of the presentinvention in a first position where the scoop is in an extendedposition.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the following detailed description of the invention of exemplaryembodiments of the invention, reference is made to the accompanyingdrawings (where like numbers represent like elements), which form a parthereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific exemplaryembodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodimentsare described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art topractice the invention, but other embodiments may be utilized andlogical, mechanical, electrical, and other changes may be made withoutdeparting from the scope of the present invention. The followingdetailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense,and the scope of the present invention is defined only by the appendedclaims.

In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth toprovide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it isunderstood that the invention may be practiced without these specificdetails. In other instances, well-known structures and techniques knownto one of ordinary skill in the art have not been shown in detail inorder not to obscure the invention.

Referring to the figures, it is possible to see the various majorelements constituting the apparatus of the present invention. Thepresent invention is storage container 10 with collapsible lid 11 andutensil 12. The present invention consists of a base 13 having aflexible and collapsible silicone lid or hood 11. This hood or lid 11allows for easy opening and closing without popping off or unscrewing.This hood or lid 11 also ensures that when closed the food inside isfully covered from spills and splashes. Additionally as the flexiblehood or lid 11 remains permanently attached to the base 13 of thecontainer 10, it cannot be misplaced.

Referring to FIGS. 1-7, the storage container 10 with a collapsible lid11 having collapsible and non-collapsible states is comprised of acontainer body 13 consisting of a continuous side wall 15, a bottompanel 14 enclosing one end of said container body 13, said side wall 15and said bottom panel 14 together form a container structure having oneclosed end and one open end. The hood or lid 11 selectively convertssaid container from an open container to a closed container. The hood orlid 11 is comprised of a bottom wall 16, a top wall 17, and a planaropening 18. Closure means are provided where said top wall 17 of the lid11 is inwardly foldable toward said bottom wall 16, such that saidcontainer 11 is collapsible in a direction normal to said container body13 and said bottom panel 14 closing the planar opening 18 while beingsubstantially self-supporting while said top wall 17 is in its unfoldedorientation. An attachment means for securing said lid 11 to said openend of the container body 13 in a fixed and/or removable manner is alsotaught where the device is created in two or more pieces. In FIGS. 1-7,the present invention is shown in a substantially circularcross-sectional shape, but it would be obvious to one of ordinary skillin the art to make the invention with a container and/or lid of variousshapes known in the container industry, but not limited to those withsubstantially rectangular cross-sectional shapes.

In another embodiment, the base 13, lid 11, or both is also providedwith an attachment means 19 for securing a ladle 20 to the containerbody 13 or lid 11. The folding ladle's primary function is similar tomany other ladles found in the market today, it can be used to scoop astandard size portion of liquid or powered solids from one storagecontainer to another. The flexible scoop 21, like the flexible andclosable lid 11, allows the large scooping scoop 21 of the ladle 20 tofold in half for more compact storage. Once folded, the ladle 20 willhold this smaller position indefinitely until it is snapped back to itsopen position. This is achieved through the special shape of the ladle'sscoop 21.

Referring to FIGS. 8-11, the scoop 21 is shaped with a concave top thatforms a scooping area 22. This area 22 is shaped such that there is asmall pouring spout 23 and 24 at either side. The bottom of the scoop 25forms a convex surface offset from the inner surface. Along the apex ofthe convex surface a recessed groove 26 is molded into the scoop 21.This recess 26 thins the scoop material along the scoop's center.

Inside the flexible scoop 21 a piece of strong inflexible material 30 isshaped to support the rear half 27 of the flexible scoop. This support30 also flows into the handle 28 and acts to connect the handle 28 andscoop 21 forming a functioning tool. The support 30 is molded so thatinside the scoop its support extends to just short of the recess 26 inthe flexible material.

Because of this support structure 30, when force is applied to the frontedge of the flexible scoop 20, pushing the scoop back toward the handle28, the front half of the scoop 31 will deform, and fold into thesupported back half 27. Once the front edge of the scoop moves farenough past the center of the scoop (apex of the concave surface) therecess 26 in its outside face folds over and snaps the front half of thescoop 31 against, and inside the back half 27. Because of the recess 26shape the scoop will not unfold until an opposite force is applied tomove the front edge of the scoop back to its open position. When snappedinto the closed position the size of the tool is greatly reduced in sizeand it fits more easily into drawers for storage or when attached to thestorage container 10 of the present invention reduces the shelf space orfootprint of the combined device.

In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, closure means toseal the contents inside and keep them fresh are provided. In thisembodiment the top wall 17 of the lid 11 is inwardly foldable towardsaid bottom wall 16, such that said container 11 is collapsible in adirection normal to said container body 13 and said bottom panel 14closing the planar opening 18 while being substantially self-supportingwhile said top wall 17 is in its unfolded orientation as previouslydisclosed. Additionally, to enable an air tight seal between the top andbottom flaps of the collapsing lid the edges of the top and bottom flapsare provides with means to ensure a sealed intersection. This sealedintersection of the edges functions to seal the contents inside and keepthem fresh. Functionally, the sealing means could be similarly to aZIPLOCK bag, sealing the edges across the opening when the lid is in theclosed position.

Furthermore, other areas of art may benefit from this method andadjustments to the design are anticipated. Thus, the scope of theinvention should be determined by the appended claims and their legalequivalents, rather than by the examples given.

1. A storage container with collapsible lid having collapsible andnon-collapsible states, said container comprising: (a) a container bodycomprising a continuous side wall, a bottom panel enclosing one end ofsaid container body, said side wall and said bottom panel togetherforming a container structure having one closed end and one open end;(b) a lid for selectively converting said container to a closedcontainer; and (c) said lid comprising a bottom wall, a top wall, and aplanar opening; (d) closure means where said top wall of the lid isinwardly foldable toward said bottom wall, such that said container iscollapsible in a direction normal to said container body and said bottompanel closing the planar opening while being substantiallyself-supporting while said top wall is in its unfolded orientation; and(e) attachment means for securing said lid to said open end of thecontainer body.
 2. The storage container with collapsible lid havingcollapsible and non-collapsible states of claim 1 wherein the lid isattached to the container body.
 3. The storage container withcollapsible lid having collapsible and non-collapsible states of claim 2wherein the lid is removably attached to the container body.
 4. Thestorage container with collapsible lid having collapsible andnon-collapsible states of claim 1 wherein said closure means isactivatable by an externally applied compressive force exerted in adirection substantially parallel to said opening plane.
 5. The storagecontainer with collapsible lid having collapsible and non-collapsiblestate of claim 1 wherein said container structure has a substantiallyrectangular cross-sectional shape
 6. The storage container withcollapsible lid having collapsible and non-collapsible state of claim 1wherein said container structure has a substantially circularcross-sectional shape
 7. The storage container with collapsible lidhaving collapsible and non-collapsible state of claim 1 furthercomprising: (f) attachment means for securing a ladle to the containerbody.
 8. The storage container with collapsible lid having collapsibleand non-collapsible state of claim 7 wherein the ladle: is shaped with aconcave top that forms a scooping area; the bottom of the scoop forms aconvex surface offset from the inner surface; along the apex of theconvex surface a recessed groove is molded into the scoop; said recessthins the scoop material along the scoop's center; inside the flexiblescoop a piece of strong inflexible material 30 shaped to support therear half of the flexible scoop; said support also flows into the handleand acts to connect the handle and scoop forming a functioning tool saidsupport is molded so that inside the scoop its support extends to justshort of the recess in the flexible material; and closure means wherewhen force is applied to the front edge of the flexible scoop, saidscoop is pushed back toward the handle, the front half of the scoop willdeform and fold into the supported back half of the scoop while beingsubstantially self-supporting while said front half of the scoop is inits unfolded orientation.
 9. The storage container with collapsible lidhaving collapsible and non-collapsible state of claim 8 wherein saidscooping area of the ladle is shaped such that there is a small pouringspout at either side.
 10. The storage container with collapsible lidhaving collapsible and non-collapsible state of claim 1 furthercomprising: (g) sealing means where an air tight seal between the edgesof the top wall and bottom wall of the collapsing lid edges of the topwall and bottom wall are provided with means to ensure a sealedintersection.
 11. A storage container with collapsible lid havingcollapsible and non-collapsible states, said container comprising: (a) acontainer body comprising a continuous side wall, a bottom panelenclosing one end of said container body, said side wall and said bottompanel together forming a container structure having one closed end andone open end; (b) a lid for selectively converting said container to aclosed container; and (c) said lid comprising a bottom wall, a top wall,and a planar opening; (d) said lid formed as one piece with thecontainer body; and (e) closure means where said top wall of the lid isinwardly foldable toward said bottom wall, such that said container iscollapsible in a direction normal to said container body and said bottompanel closing the planar opening while being substantiallyself-supporting while said top wall is in its unfolded orientation. 12.The storage container with collapsible lid having collapsible andnon-collapsible states of claim 11 wherein the lid is attached to thecontainer body.
 13. The storage container with collapsible lid havingcollapsible and non-collapsible states of claim 12 wherein the lid isremovably attached to the container body.
 14. The storage container withcollapsible lid having collapsible and non-collapsible states of claim11 wherein said closure means is activatable by an externally appliedcompressive force exerted in a direction substantially parallel to saidopening plane.
 15. The storage container with collapsible lid havingcollapsible and non-collapsible state of claim 11 wherein said containerstructure has a substantially rectangular cross-sectional shape
 16. Thestorage container with collapsible lid having collapsible andnon-collapsible state of claim 11 wherein said container structure has asubstantially circular cross-sectional shape
 17. The storage containerwith collapsible lid having collapsible and non-collapsible state ofclaim 11 further comprising: (f) attachment means for securing a ladleto the container body.
 18. The storage container with collapsible lidhaving collapsible and non-collapsible state of claim 17 wherein theladle: is shaped with a concave top that forms a scooping area; thebottom of the scoop forms a convex surface offset from the innersurface; along the apex of the convex surface a recessed groove ismolded into the scoop; said recess thins the scoop material along thescoop's center; inside the flexible scoop a piece of strong inflexiblematerial 30 shaped to support the rear half of the flexible scoop; saidsupport also flows into the handle and acts to connect the handle andscoop forming a functioning tool said support is molded so that insidethe scoop its support extends to just short of the recess in theflexible material; and closure means where when force is applied to thefront edge of the flexible scoop, said scoop is pushed back toward thehandle, the front half of the scoop will deform and fold into thesupported back half of the scoop while being substantiallyself-supporting while said front half of the scoop is in its unfoldedorientation.
 19. The storage container with collapsible lid havingcollapsible and non-collapsible state of claim 18 wherein said scoopingarea of the ladle is shaped such that there is a small pouring spout ateither side.
 20. The storage container with collapsible lid havingcollapsible and non-collapsible state of claim 11 further comprising:(g) sealing means where an air tight seal between the edges of the topwall and bottom wall of the collapsing lid edges of the top wall andbottom wall are provided with means to ensure a sealed intersection.